GRID-Arendal Annual Report 1998

Greeting from UNEP's Executive Director Klaus Töpfer

When the Government of Norway in 1989 took the initiative to establish GRID-Arendal, it inaugurated a new and innovative model for supporting UNEP. For the first time, a foundation, fully dedicated to strengthen UNEP and the UN system in the field of environmental information, was established. Ten years later, this model has proven to be an extremely successful and working example on how a non-profit organisation with strong govern- ment support can make invaluable contributions to a multi-lateral environment organisation, UNEP. UNEP, as the world's environmental conscience, must develop increased capacity to respond to continuing and emerging challenges facing the global environment. With limited internal capacity, UNEP must increasingly engage all relevant major actors in developing the basis for environmental policy- making and action. The focus must be on forg- ing strategic partnerships and networks involv- ing all players that can contribute the best pos- sible information base for decision-making and public awareness.

The role and importance of GRID-Arendal, through the increased capacity it provides to UNEP in this field, cannot be underestimated.

In this year of the 10th anniversary of GRID- Arendal, I take this opportunity to congratulate the Government of Norway with their visionary think- ing when they established GRID-Arendal in 1989. I also congratulate the Board of Directors, the Manag- ing Director and the staff on their admirable perfor- mance in developing GRID-Arendal to the extent that it can deliver the impressive array of outputs and ser- vices described in this report.

Klaus Töpfer Executive Director, UNEP

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Front cover: From training to product:

Phare Training Workshop “SoE on the Internet” Arendal, Norway. September 8-11 State of the Environment Reports Sampler CD-ROM UNEP/GRID-Arendal and EU Phare.